The Best Shoulder Plane for 2024

Having the best shoulder plane to help you out with your woodworking jobs is an absolute must when it comes to detailed working.

Whether you are working on tenons, rabbets, or dadoes carpenters, cabinet makers, joiners, and woodworking enthusiasts will tell you that there are many different types of woodworking planes available with certain ones designed to help with specific woodworking tasks.

Planes such as low angle Jack planes are a great all-rounder plane and certainly one to have in your collection.

There’s the low angle block plane, a firm favorite and ideal for working on end grain, and the last plane that is usually used on the workpiece, the smoothing plane to name just a few bench planes that help with specific woodworking tasks.

A shoulder plane is a type of hand plane used to create precise, smooth, and straight shoulders on a piece of wood. It is commonly used in fine woodworking and carpentry.

The tool is typically small, with a rectangular body and a blade that extends beyond the sides of the body. It is used to trim and smooth the edges of wood where they meet at a right angle, such as at the corners of a mortise or tenon joint.

The blade is adjusted using a knob or lever, allowing the user to achieve a precise and consistent cut. Shoulder planes are an essential tool for any woodworker looking to create high-quality joinery.

A shoulder planes blade also extends the length of the tool, which means that it not only cuts the full width of the tool but that it also cuts the full length of the tool too.

We’ve taken a look at the best shoulder planes and reviewed them for you, we’ve looked at standard use shoulder planes, dual-purpose shoulder planes, and also 3 in 1 shoulder planes.

Editor’s Award	Brand	Full Review
Best Dual Purpose Shoulder Plane	Stanley 12-140 No.92 Shoulder and Chisel Plane
Best Small Size Shoulder Plane	WoodRiver No. 91 Small Shoulder Plane
Best 3 In 1 Shoulder Plane	Bench Dog Tools 3-in-1 Shoulder Plane
Best Medium Size Shoulder Plane	WoodRiver #92 Medium Shoulder Plane
Worthy Mention	Shop Fox D3751 Precision Shoulder Plane
Best Large Size Shoulder Plane	WoodRiver No. 93 Large Shoulder Plane

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• Best Dual Purpose Shoulder Plane
• Best Small Size Shoulder Plane
• Best 3 In 1 Shoulder Plane
• Best Medium Size Shoulder Plane
• Worthy Mention
• Best Large Size Shoulder Plane
• Frequently Asked Questions

The Best Shoulder Planes Reviewed

Best Dual Purpose Shoulder Plane: Stanley 12-140 No.92 Shoulder and Chisel Plane

This Stanley dual purpose shoulder plane converts from a shoulder plane to a chisel plane quickly and easily, it’s definitely one worth adding to your woodworking tool collection.

Giving excellent edge retention, the iron is constructed from extra thick 1/8 inch A2 grade steel. The cast iron base has been precision ground for accuracy as you would expect, which means that this dual-purpose Shoulder plane really is good to go, right out of the box.

As well as the solid brass adjustment knobs, another nice design feature worth mentioning here is the finger grips. These gripping points give you added control, helping you to keep a firm grip on the plane when working.

This nicely weighted 1.58 lb dual purpose shoulder/chisel plane is sized at 6-7/64 inches in length and has a width (and cutting width) of 3/4 inch.

So if you are looking for the best dual-purpose shoulder plane that comes in at a very reasonable price, then this is definitely the one to go for.

What We Like:

• Top Build Quality – You know what to expect with Stanley tools and this one follows that tradition of well-made quality tools.
• Nice Design Touches – From the solid brass control knobs to the finger grips, these features aren’t just for show, they are there to help you with your woodworking tasks.
• Converts Quickly – Being able to work quickly when you want to, this dual-purpose shoulder/chisel plane is quick and easy to convert.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

And if you are in the UK then check the latest price on Amazon UK.

Best Small Size Shoulder Plane: WoodRiver No. 91 Small Shoulder Plane

This antique styled small shoulder plane has all the modern day features that woodworkers require to get the best possible results in their woodworking jobs.

The No. 91 is perfect for working on dados, rabbets, and cleaning up tenons. Classically styled with its narrow body, flat bottom, sides square to the sole, and with a slightly proud blade.

This is one tough piece of equipment, the body of the No. 91 is made from Cr40 stress-relieved ductile steel, not only that but it also boasts a blade that is Mn65 hardened to HRC60-64 grade.

We mentioned before that this small shoulder plane has classic looks combined with modern-day features, an adjustable toe has been added to the design that is used to control the opening of the throat.

This is a welcome addition as it really does help with reducing the risk of tear-out when working on end grain.

This 3/4 body length shoulder plane has an overall plane length of 6-1/2 inches, a height of 2-3/8 inches, and a 1/2 inch width this classic-looking small shoulder plane has a bedded angle of 15°, with a blade angle at 25°.

What We Like:

• Built For Hard Work – Strong and robust construction, if you want a small shoulder plane with classic looks combined with modern-day features, then this is the one to go for.
• Antique Look And Feel – Retro looking but with everything you need for today’s standards.
• Quality Product – Made with precision machining, ensuring that the sides are square to the sole,

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Best 3 In 1 Shoulder Plane: Bench Dog Tools 3-in-1 Shoulder Plane

When working on various joinery jobs sometimes it’s useful to have a tool that converts quickly into another tool to help you with the job in hand. In this case, it saves time hunting around for the chisel plane when you have finished with the shoulder plane as you already have it there with you.

Attention to detail is most important when you want professional-looking results in your woodworking jobs. The Bench Dog 3 in 1 shoulder planes sides are precision machined, ensuring squareness with the sole,

As with all Bench Dog planes, the fine iron castings and also the blade are precision ground for flatness to maintain that high standard that is required and expected.

More attention to detail is shown in the way that the 1 inch blade is just a fraction wider than the width of the planes body, the reason for this is to ensure that no sharp corners or ridges are left on the workpiece when the plane is used.

Every Bench Dog 3 in 1 plane purchased is accompanied by a certificate of inspection, stating that specific planes measurements, relating to the flatness of the sole and the hardness of the blade.

You also get a storage case included with your purchase to keep your new 3 in 1 shoulder plane nice and safe when not in use.

What We Like:

• Versatile hand plane – Converts from a shoulder plane into a long or short chisel plane easily.
• Attention To Detail – Nice attention to detail, just what you would expect from Bench Dog.
• Bang For Your Buck – You get 3 tools in 1 here, and at a decent price too.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Best Medium Size Shoulder Plane: WoodRiver #92 Medium Shoulder Plane

This really is a perfect blend of when old meets new, the WoodRiver No. 92 medium-sized shoulder plane has everything that a modern-day woodworker needs when working on rabbets, dadoes, joining pieces together, or for just when you want to clean up tenons.

Based on the classic Edward Preston and Sons plane designs, this shoulder plane really does look the part. Featuring the classic shoulder plane narrow body with a slightly proud blade that ensures that no ridges or sharp corners are left on the workpiece.

Cr40 rated stress-relieved ductile steel is used for the body of the plane which has been machined flat and of course, machined square.

The planes cutting blade is Mn65 tool steel hardened to 60-64 Rc, which basically means that the blade is super tough and ready for hard work.

A new feature added to this classic design is the addition of an adjustable toe, this is used to control the throat opening and reduce the chances of tear out when working.

With this being a medium sized shoulder plane you expect it to pack a bit of weight, coming in at 2.35 lbs the weight to size ratio is just right.

Size-wise the No. 92 measures 8-13/16 inches long with a width of 3/4 of an inch and a height of 3-1/4 inches with a bedded angle of 15° and a 25° blade angle.

What We Like:

• Vintage Looks – This shoulder plane has a mixture of classic styling and modern-day functionality.
• Good Weight For Working – A nice weight to size ratio for working.
• One For The Tool Collection – On looks alone this shoulder plane should be added to your tool collection, but this plane is a worker too and that’s what counts most of all.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Worthy Mention: Shop Fox D3751 Precision Shoulder Plane

This shoulder plane is at the lower end of the price range when it comes to good quality, good performing shoulder planes.

Made from cast iron and featuring a 2 part sole, throat adjustment is possible via the internal set screw with Iron adjustment achieved via the knurled thumb screw.

Removing the toe section reveals an option of being able to use the plane as a chisel plane which is a nice handy feature to incorporate.

Weighing 1.25 lbs and measuring 3/4 inch wide by 5 inches long, this really is a shoulder plane that is worth a mention and might just be the right choice for you if you don’t want to spend too much money on a shoulder plane that you perhaps won’t be using a lot.

What We Like:

• Value For Money – Good quality hand plane at a decent price.
• Versatile Tool – This tool does convert into a chisel plane after the removal of the toe section.
• Worth A Mention – Remember this is a lower-priced shoulder plane, so don’t expect it to be set up and work as well as the more expensive models.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Best Large Size Shoulder Plane: WoodRiver No. 93 Large Shoulder Plane

What We Like:

• Quality Shoulder Plane – High price tag but as we all know, sometimes when you want the best tools you have to pay top money.
• Big Shoulder plane – This number 93 is a big shoulder plane and built to work hard and produce great results time after time.
• Works Right Out Of The Box – Work right out of the box with this shoulder plane if you want to, but as we all know we like to get our tools set up ourselves to get them working just how we want them to work.

Check the latest price on Amazon.